In late 2007, Nissan took the automotive world by storm with the release of their newest Skyline model, the Nissan GT-R. Representing the first ever Skyline car to be sanctioned for the shores of the US (officially), the GT-R has since gone on to compete with the big names in the exotic car industry, namely Porsche, Ferrari and Lamborghini.

And now, roughly two and a half years later, the rumor mill is beginning to churn out hints at what the next-gen GT-R might have to offer. So far the rumors are few, but the most significant comes in terms of power: 500+ horsepower to be exact. While that only represents a 5%+ increase in power over the current model, that can mean quite a lot when it comes to hard numbers.

For example, with a current 0-60 time of 3.2 seconds (with launch control), that 5% increase in power could potentially mean sub-3 second 0-60 times, putting the GT-R in the blisteringly fast (and spine damaging) realm of the Bugatti Veyron and the Koenigsegg CCXR in terms of low-end acceleration.

And with a current top speed of 195 mph (according to a Motor Trend test), that same 5% increase in power could put the Nissan GT-R above 200mph, a rarefied realm in and of itself, and a first for a sub-$100k production car.

Suddenly that 5% increase in power sounds quite impressive. If the world really does end in 2012, perhaps you can be behind the wheel of the newest GT-R when it happens!